Whitish Sulawesi miniature squirrel
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Whitish Sulawesi Miniature Squirrel ( Prosciurillus leucomus ) |
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| ( Müller & Schlegel , 1844) |
The whitish Sulawesi dwarf squirrel ( Prosciurillus leucomus ) is a species of squirrel from the genus of the Sulawesi dwarf squirrel ( Prosciurillus ), which occurs in the north of the island of Sulawesi, which belongs to Indonesia .
features
Like the other species of Sulawesi miniature squirrel, the whitish Sulawesi miniature squirrel is one of the smaller species of squirrel endemic to the island of Sulawesi. It reaches a head-torso length of about 16.5 to 18.8 centimeters. The tail is about 14 to 19 centimeters long, about as long as the rest of the body. The back color of the animals is olive-brown, sometimes with orange-red, sand-colored or black spots. White or whitish-brown to gray spots on the neck behind the ears are characteristic. The ears are black on top with a distinct black tuft of hair, and ocher-colored on the inside. The underside is red-brown or ocher colored. The tail is indistinctly curled with black and sand-brown stripes and ends in a black tassel.
distribution
The whitish Sulawesi dwarf squirrel occurs on the northern foothills of the island of Sulawesi, which belongs to Indonesia, and on the small offshore island of Lembeh . The altitude distribution extends from the coast to altitudes of around 1700 meters.
Way of life
Little data is available on the way of life of the white Sulawesi dwarf squirrel. It lives in the forests of the lowlands up to the mountain forests of medium altitudes and is there probably mainly in the canopy of leaves. The diet likely consists mainly of soft fruits and insects. The females have three pairs of teats, the litter size is unknown.
Systematics
The whitish Sulawesi dwarf squirrel is classified as an independent species within the genus of the Sulawesi dwarf squirrel ( Prosciurillus ), which currently consists of seven species, while only five species were recognized until 2005. The first scientific description comes from Salomon Müller and Hermann Schlegel from 1844, who described the species using individuals from the Minahasa region in northern Sulawesi.
Within the species, two subspecies are distinguished with the nominate form
- Prosciurillus leucomus leucomus : nominate form, occurs in the entire distribution area with the exception of the region west of Gorontalo . In the nominate form, the nape patches are particularly pronounced and the muzzle and cheeks have an ocher color.
- Prosciurillus leucomus occidentalis : only west of Gorontalo; the muzzle and cheeks of this form are pale sand-colored or gray. The nape patches are indistinct or may be missing and the ventral side is paler than in the nominate form.
In 2005 Richard W. Thorington also described Prosciurillus leucomus hirsutus and Prosciurillus leucomus tonkeanus as subspecies, which he no longer lists in his 2012 revision.
Status, threat and protection
The whitish Sulawesi miniature squirrel is listed as data deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) due to the very incomplete data situation . Stock figures are not known, but since it lives in forests that are affected by logging and generally occurs in low density, an assessment of the stocks as threatened would be possible.
supporting documents
- ↑ a b c d e f g h Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 176-177. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
- ↑ a b c Prosciurillus leucomus in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.3. Posted by: L. Ruedas, A. Suyanto, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
- ↑ a b c Prosciurillus leucomus In: Don E. Wilson , DeeAnn M. Reeder (Ed.): Mammal Species of the World. A taxonomic and geographic Reference. 2 volumes. 3. Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2005, ISBN 0-8018-8221-4 .
literature
- Richard W. Thorington Jr., John L. Koprowski, Michael A. Steele: Squirrels of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore MD 2012; Pp. 176-177. ISBN 978-1-4214-0469-1
Web links
- Prosciurillus leucomus inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014.3. Posted by: L. Ruedas, A. Suyanto, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2015.